Tamping machine



slept-x, 1sg 192se 1,684,882

A. J. PENOTE TAMPING MACHINE Filyh/ 4 sheets-shelet 2 @y M o@ A J PENOTETAMPING MACHINE Flled Oci'I 30, 1924 Sept. 18, 1928.

Sept. 18, 1928.

`A. J. PENOTE TAMPING MACHINE Filed oct, so,

4 Sheets-Sheet' .3

Sept. 18, 1928. 1,684,882

` A. J. PENOTE TAMPING MACHINE Filed oc. so. 1924 4 sheetshee-b 4/fWf/vra/P Ayas as lfenotg Patented Sept.. 18, 192.8.-

UNITE-Di STATES AUGUSTUS J'. PENOTE,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TMPING MACHINE. A

application inea occber 3o, "1924. yserial No. 746,785.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for tamping blocks,dirt, or sinnlar materials, as in making roads, filling in trenches,etc.

While my invention in its preferred embodiment is particularly adaptedfor making solidthe surface of the material above a trench which hasjust-been filled, it may be used for various other purposes such asramming pavements, breaking up hard-surface material such as asphaltumand compacting rough surfacesa f Heretoforefit has been customary to dosuch tainping by means of hammersor rollers usually actuated either-infront of or to the rear of a propelling 'force suoli as thatof anengine, and such tampers have customarily been held in a particularposition which had always to be maintained as it was first mounted. tofacilitate the operation of such taniping mechanism by mounting thetamping bar upon a. swinging arm which may be moved about upon avertical pivot to position the tamper at one end ofa suitable carriageand to either side thereof, at the same time actuating thc saine in anyof said positions.

It is Va further object of my invention to provide in the same machinemeans for filling in an open trench with material lying on the surfaceadjacent thereto, and so arranging the relation between the twomechanisms, that the surface of the filled trench may be tampe'd downsolidl subsequent to fillingl .The invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of' parts as hereinafterparticularly described, recited -in the appended claims and-illustratedinthe accompanying drawings, in which,'-e

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tamping machine embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; Figure 3 :is a horizontal sectiontaken' on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the machine `in operation when fillinga ditch and tamping the material down therein, and

Figure is a fragmentary section in a vertical plane passinglongitudinally through the central portion of the machine in Fig. 2, `inthe plane of the vertical shaft-24.

In-the drawing, 10 represents a'carriage having a frame 11 mounted onasubsidiary frame comprising a lower rail 12 and an upper rail 13 aboutwhich caterpillar tractors 14 revolve, as well as about sprocket Wheels15 mounted upon the adjustable blocks 16 at the end of the longer rail.Y

At the front of the machine is a reel 17 mounted upon a rotating shaftl8extending lengthwise of the machine and alittle to the right sidethereof, 191s the radiator of an internal combustion engine 27 whosemain shaft -20 is parallel with 18. f` In the rear of the machine ismounted the vertical tamper 21 carried by a reciprocating bar 22actuated by mechanism carried 'by frame arms 23 swinging upon andsupported by a vertical shaft 24 near the center of the machine.

`An intermediate slaft 25 is also positioned parallel with and betweenshafts 18 and 2 0 i von 'about the-longitudinal axis of the machine,'and various gear mechanisms are provided connecting the shafts inVarious relations, as

will later be explained; so that bythe use of It is a special object ofmy invention suitable Vclutches .thee'ngine may drive most of themechanisms shown, selectively. Various control`devices are also providedfor manual actuation to operate the said clutches and determine theoperationof /the various functions, as willi` be later described indetail. Uponlthe outer ends of the parallel arms vor 'rails' 23 aremounted spaced, cross shafts 34 and 35, rotativ'ely connected togetherby pinilons 36 at. one side of the rails, and a third cross shaft 37 hasone overhanging end provided with a pinion 38 in mesh with one y of thepinions 36 while( the other shaft `end is pi'ovided'with a ybeltpulley'39 by which the shafts and gears are driven in unison. "Betweenthe semicylindrical rails gripping pul leys 40 are mounted on the crossshafts 34 and 35,' yand, these pulleys are of somewhat smaller radiusthan their corresponding gears 36, sol that the fiat tamper bar may beactuated by the pulleys 40 Without disengaging .the gears 36, in themanner now to be eXF plained. f T he said pulleys 40 are semi-cylindrical Ias shown quite clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In Fig. 2these gripping pulleys are shown in plan with their curvedsurfacesupward, the flatsurfaces caused by the planes i passing through theiraxes being on the lower sides as will be understood from Fig. 1, whilesuch axial planes are shown vertical in Fig. 4. "These gripping pulleys40 are normally `heldlpressed together by compression springs `411nounted upon "slidable rods 42 supported 'upon the ends of the rails23. The force eX- `-erted by these springs tends to grip the bar 22between the said pulleys,'as the latter are carried upon slidablebosses, as will beunderstood. The pulleys 40 are rotated in oppositedirections by the gears 36 and gri the bar 22 until the flat surface ofthe mem ers .40 face the bar, when the latter will fall to'produce thedesired tamping action. Upon rotation of the pulleys a half revolution,the curved surfaces of the gripping members will again engage the barand again drop it, thus causing acontinuous movement of the bar and itstamper block, raising them by mechanical actuation and permitting themto fall by.

gravitation.

Belt pulley 39 receives power from pulley 43 by means of the belt 44,and pulley 43 is driven from the vertical shaft 24 through the beveledgears 45. 'Since the parts 43, 44, and 39 serve to actuate thereciprocating tam-v per members, the drive means for the parts 43 and 44is shown somewhatin detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The shaft 24 isdriven through a worm and gear mechanism shown in the latter view asencased in housings 50 and 52, the end 51 of the worm shaft being shownas provided with a sprocket receiving power from the engine shaft`through the sprocket chain 29. See Fig. 3.

The lower end of the shaft 24 is provided with asmall beveled gear 46meshing with such a gear of larger size' mounted upon a sleeve 47adapted to be clutched to the longitudinal shaft'25 to drive the latterwhich is provided at its front end withaworm i engaging a worm gearengaging upon the cross shafts 33. These parts are shown encased.h

The fuel tank is designated vby numeral 26 and the fly wheel 32 is shownas mounted on the en ine shaft 20.v It is the pur ose of my machlne tobe adapted for tamplng the ground surface or material thereon throughouta wide area at either side yand directly to the rear of the machine. To.accomplish this, a tamper carriage is provided which comprises parallelrails 23 which support the talnping mechanism directly, is pivoted aboutthe upper end of the centrally-mounted, vertical shaft 24 and beneaththe lower bevel gear 45. To provide for suitable support for' the heavyweight carried byjthe outer ends of these rails 23, a sm-all carriage 53is at tached to lower edges ofthe rails and is provided with suitablebearing rollers 54 which ride upon an arc-shaped track 55, of at least180o which is suitably supported upon the frame of the machine about thevertical shaft 24 as a center and overhanging the tractors at either endof the arc. ManualI controlrnieans is providedl for rocking' the rails23`with their tamping members about their vertical pivot shaft 24,' saidcontrol means consisting of a worm gear 56 which is annular in designand bolted to the lower surface ofy an annular block 57 which carriesthe plates 58, shown clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, on which theinner ends of the rails '23 are secured. t A longitudial shaft 59 has atits rear end a worm 60 properly supported by a Ueshaped plate 61 andthereby held in en gagement with the worm gear 56. The forf ward end ofshaft 59 1s provided with a hancLwheel 62 in reach of the drivers seat,so that the operator may swing the said tamperV carriage bearing' itstamper mechanism on its outer end together with its Supporting rails23,upon the said arc-shaped track, and about the said central verticalshaft 24, to either side of the machine, as maybe desired.

lSuitable control mechanism for varying th'e adjustment and thespeed'ofvarious parts is provided as follows: The chains 28 and 29 are drivenselectively from shaft 20 by the provision of sprockets integral withclutch sleeves 63 loosely 'mounted upon said shaft. Between thesesleeves is a sleeve 64 keyed to shaft 20 and slidable thereon forengaging either clutch sleeve or neither,-to positively drive eitherchain from said shaft, or remain in neutral position. On the end ofshaft 37 opposite its gear, is a clutch 65 which in the position shownin Fig. 2. clutches the shaft 'to the pulley 39, which may make possiblea disengagement of the latter pulley from thel shaft. It is noted thatchain 29 drives the worm 'shaft 51 which in turn drives a worm wheelwithin the casing 52 and thereby a vertical shaft 24 and the beveledgears 46.

' From the latter the sleeve 47 is driven loosely that the chain 29 maydrive the shaft 25 and thereby -the shafts 33 with parts attachedthereto.

Theclutch collar 66 is shifted by a lever 7 5 pivoted intermediate itsends and actuated by the link 76 connected to the lever 70, as

4shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The clutch sleeve or collar 64 is shifted ineither direction by a rock shaft 77 actuated in turn by a link 78connected with a hand lever 68. The 'clutch sleeve 65 is operated 'bythe pivotcd hand lever 74, s hown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2.

Levers 67 and 69, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, actuate through links 79,concentric cross shafts one rocking wfithin the other, the ends of theinner shaft, and outer tubular shaft, being shown in Fig. 2 as providedwith-links` 8() and 81. respectively, for actuating the forward andreverse speeds of thc shaft 20 b v means well understood and which is nocon ventional and, it is'thought, more detailed dclscription is notrequire-d in this case. as no loo speed when disengaged or open. f Theother shafts 33 have mountedthereon outside the chains 31, brake pulleys82 about which the brake bands 83 are mounted, and which latter aretightened by a common cable 84 guided about a pulley 85. The cable oneither side of the machine, is tightened by an arm on a rock shaft, onebeing actuated by a foot lever 72 and' the other by the foot lever 73,whereby the shafts 33 may be reduced in speed, to vary the relativespeed of the tractors at either' side and thereby steer the machine.

y At the end of the machine which we `have called the front, because theengine is mounted there, the pulley or reel 17 projects beyond the endof the frame and is adapted to receive thereabout a rope or cable 86 oneend of which may be held in the hands of an operative to tighten therope so as to pull the shovel or scraper 87 across the lopen trench 88to fill the latter with material 89 from the side of the trenchpreparatoryl to tamping the material gown in solid condition. As themachine ravels parallel to the trench, one operative may hold the ropewhile another guides the handles of the scraper to -move the materialtoward the open trench, after which the first operative loosens the ropeso that the other may pull the shovel back for engagement of morematerial.

It is evident that when the rope is tightened about the pulley 17, therotation of the latter Will readily stress the rope to actuate thescraper 87, so that when the tamper device 21 borne by the tamper car'-riage, which latter is supported on the said track 55, has been movedabout the vertical shaft 24 to the side of the machine reaches theportion that has been filled in, the reciprocation of the tamper willserve to crowd the l trench 88 with the solid material. The tamper mayoperate on either side of the machine at any point upon or betweenthelimits of the track 55, so that both trenches may be filled on eitherside of the roadway. This machine is often used to fil f trenches afterthe latter have had conduits 1 laid therein, though it is adapted tofill trenches of all kinds, the machine being guided parallel to thesame during the filling and tamping. Further, blocks of suitablematerial, such as wood, concrete, clay orl other similar material may belaid upon the packed material in the trench preparatory to tamping themin position. My

machine may also be used advantageously for tamping down blocks or theuncovered surface anywhere, whether above a filled trench or not, or forbreaking up concrete, hard earth or for drilling rock.

Operation: Assuming that the machine is travelling upon the highway to adestination for-tamping and filling operations, the tamping mechanismbeing out of operation temporarily, by shifting clutch 66 by lever 70,lever 71 is shifted into high speed position and clutch 64 shifted bylever 68 to drive shaft 25 and the connected shafts 33 from 20 throughchain'28, so that the engine will drive the tractors 14 directly, thoughfurther controlled by the levers 67 and 69 through the speedtransmission 'fgear, as above explained, the machine may now be guidedby the foot levers 72 and 73, to drive the tractor belts l14 at variousrelative speeds. While so travelling, the tamper carriage comprising therails 23 vsupporting the tamping machine will usually'be directed towardthe rear in adjusted central position on the track 55 in the arc by theworm gears 56 and 60 by means ofthe hand wheel 62 and shaft 59. Duringsuch travel, the speed and direction o f travel may be controlled by thehand levers 67 and 69.

W'hen the machine is in position for tampi* trench which is to befilled, or Whose sur ace is to be compacted and blocks tamped downthereon, or anyvork of that nature performed, and the clutch 64 isshifted to drive parts 51 and 24 through the chain 29, whereby pulley 43is driven and the sleeve 47 rotated. The clutch 65 is now shifted toclosed position, thus beginning the actuation of the tamping mechanismthrough gears 36. The clutch 66 is now shifted to closed position sothat shaft 25 starts to rotate and thereby the tractor belts at lowspeed, this speed being further reduced by shifting the transmission by71 into low speed. Chain 3 0 will in the meantime drive shaft 18 and itsreel, so .that the scraper device 87 may be alternately power actuatedtoward the machine to move material over and into the trench, andreleased by loosening the rope 86 about the reel 17.. During thisoperation of the machine while stationed alongside'the trench, or indoing other filling or tamping-Work, the machine will be steered asin'directing the same on the highway, and 'the machine may be haltedtemporarily in one position While continuing to use the tamper bymerely'disengaging the clutch 66; and the speed of the tamping operationmay vat all times be varied by the -levers 67`and 69.

lll)

mechanism the tamper may be operated in all lpositions of its adjustmenton said track, be-

cause the driving means therefor is operated through the rotation of theshaft 24 about which the frame 23 is fulcrumed. This is a peculiaradvantage of my improved mechanism over priorstructures which have beenadapted to travel astride the trench being filled and tamped, and whichlatter in their tamper mechanism have been restricted to a small arc tothe rear of the machine, or, as has been more usual, the tamper operateswit-hin the strict lateral outline of the vehicle.

My machine, having means lfor positioning the operating tamper at eitherside thereof, it is clear that the machine may operate to till and packa trench with material on either side of v a roadway or street while themachine is moving on the side of the trench toward the cent-er of t-hestreet, though it is clear that 'for tamping operations-it may travelastride the trench if it should loe-thought desirable.

This is a very great advantage in that my improved machine is therebycapable of filling and compacting material 1n a trench which is veryclose to a curb, because the machine may operateon the side of thetrench farthest from the curb, the swinging of the tamper carriage sofar to the side of the machine supported on the said 180o track 55permitting such extreme position. Such proximity to the curb haspractically7 rendered other machines impracticable. Also my machine isrendered more positive in its action since the tractors are able totravel on a much more stable street surface than is usually foundimmediately adjacent the trench where the surface is apt to becovered'wit-h loose and often damp earth. 4

A further advantage resultsfrom my improved c'onstruction, in that sogreat an arc for adjustment of the tamper frame 23 is provided withoutmoving the power source for actuating the V.tamping mechanism. It

V will be noted that if the forward end of said frame 23 were extendedtoward the front of the machine an adequatey distance to counterbalancethe weight of the tamping machine i shaft 24 for driving means, andsupportingl the frameV between the fulcrum and the tamper y upon thearc-shaped track 55, as above stated.

This frame 23 is therefore a lever of the third exten ing over the track55, without extending the opposite end of the tamper carriage anyfurther relative to the outline of the machine beyond the pivot 24 thanwhen the carriage is in position lengthwise of the machine-a verypositive advantage.

Then, too, by so constructing my machine that it may travel at one sideof the trench or other line of work to be done, applicant is able tooperate the scraper deviceI before tamping the filled-in material, as itis evident that the said device could not well be operated to fill atrench while the tractor, members of the machine were astride thetrench. Applicant can therefore fill-the open trench at one side of themachine at the same time operating the tamper mechanism subsequently oron a filled portion of the same trench. The two operations willtherefore proceed at the same time, though upon differ- 'ent parts ofthe=trench. Many advantages f arise then from the capability of themachine operating wholly at one side of a trench.

While the tamperis shown in the` drawings provided with the feet 21, itis evident that a foot of different outline and weight for otherpurposes may be substituted therefor. Further, the general arrangementof` the frame and power drive mechanism may remain as here shown, thoughother tractor elements may be used in place ofthe belts 14, eitherpower-driven or otherwise-for example, the machine may be trailed behindanother vehicle.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isv 1. The combination of a roadtractorprovided with a supporting framework and driving and steering' meanstherefor, a tamping mechanism supported on said frame work, and arotating shaft thereon having a winding reel secured to one end thereofwhereby a scraping device may be driven toward and from said tractor bymeans of a'v flexible element attachedl to the device and lm l adaptedto be tightened about said reel.`

2. A machine of the class described comprising a supporting frameworksupported on tractor belts, an elongated carriage pivotally mounted onsaid framework, a vertically- 1 l5 slidable tamper mounted on saidcarriage, operating means for said tamper, a rotating shaft mounted onsaid framework and .carrying a reel secured to one end thereof, drivemeans for said shaft operatively connected with said tamper operatingmeans, and a scraper device provided with a rope adapted to be manuallywound about said reel.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a main frame, tractorbelt drive mechanism supporting said frame, tamper mechanism mountedupon said frame about a vertical axis to permit oscillation of thetamper/about the base of said machine, a

movable scraper device, a rope secured to said 1304 device for draggingthe same towards the frame of said machine, reeling mechanism forpulling said rope, and power means on said frame for driving the tractormechanism, the tamper mechanism and reeling mechanism.

4.. TheV combination in a. vehicular machine of a traction engine, ashaft actuated by said engine, a tamper mechanism, a scraper devicemovable toward and from said shaft, ahd a reel secured to one end ofsaid shaft about which a flexible element having one end at- V tached tothe scraper may bewound, whereby rotation of thereel will tighten thesaid element and aetuate the scraper.

5. A machine of the class described com,- prising, amain elongatedframe, a carriage pivoted at one end upon a vertical drive shaft mountedcentrally of said frame, a tamper mechanism mounted on the opposite endof said carriage, power means on said frame, and driving connect-ions,including said vertical shaft for actuating said tamper mecha.- n ismfrom said power means. Y I r 6. A machine of the class describedcomprising, a frame mounted on a single pair of spaced'tractors, acarriage mounted to oscillate at one end about a vertical-drive shaft-mounted centrally of said frame, tamper mechanism mounted on theopposite end of said carriage, means for adjusting the position of saidcarriage about said shaft, means for driving said shaft independently ortogether, means for driving said tamper mechanism in any one of thepositions of said carriage, and control means operable from a commonposition on said machine for determining the actuation of said tractors,the adjustment of the carriage,`actuation of the tamper mechanism,relative speed of said tractors, and the relative speed of the tampermechanism and the said tractors.

7. A mach/ine of the class described comprising, a framework mountedupon tractors, l a vertical drive shaft mounted centrally in said framework, an elongated carriage pivoted at one end upon said shaft wherebythev outer or opposite end of the carriage may be swung about said shaftinto pdsition on either side of the machine and .beyond either tracJtor, a tamper and operating'means therefor mounted on the outer end ofsaid carriage, means for actuating said'tamper from said shaft, powermeans mounted on saidiframe\ work, and mechanism connected with saidpower means for driving selectively or to-K gether, said vertical shaftand said tractors.

8. A machine of the class described comprising, an arc-sliaped trackmounted on one end of said frame work with its concayity facing theopposite Vend of the machine,`a traction frame work, a vertical driveshaft mounted on said frame work at the approximate center of the arc ofsaid shaft, an`elongated carriage pivoted at one end on said ing themachine in itsy position ,throughout the entire arc, and resting uponthe track,-

a vertically-slidable tamper and operating means being mounted on theouter end of said.

carriage, means for-actuating the tamper from said vertical shaft whenthe carriage is in any position in said arc, power means mounted uponsaid frame work for driving said shaft, and means for adjiisting saidcarriag about said'shaft in any desired position in`said are.

9. A unitary, vehicular machine comprising a supporting frame, a tampermechanism for tamping down material on the ground surface adjacent thepath of the machine and actuating mechanism forgoperating a scraperdevicefor movement horizontallyf and transverse of the path of themachine.

10. 'lhel combination in a vehicular machine, of a supporting frame, atraction engine, horizontally movablescraping means connected`detachably with -and driven by said engine and movable transverse ofthe path of said machine` for filling material into a trench ladjacentthereto, and a tamping mechanism also driven by said engine andpivotally mount-cd upon said frame for thereafter packing said scrapedmaterial in said trench.

11. A machine of the'class described comprising an elongated framework,tractor mechanism supporting said framework, power drive means for saidtractor mechanism, 'an arc-shaped supporting rail mounted on saidframework at one end of the same.

the said drive means including a vertical shaft positioned at theapproximate center of the arc-shaped rail, an elongated carriagepivotally mounted for horizontal movement about said shaft at one end ofthe carriage. the other end extending out over and bevond the outline ofthe framework, with its intermediate portion resting upon said rail` avertically-slidable tamper with actuating means therefor mounted uponthe outer end of the carriage, driving connections between said verticalshaft and said tamper actuating means, and manually actuated means foradjusting said carriage about said shaft and upon said supporting rail.

12. A machine of the cla-ss described comprising; a frame work mountedupon tractors, an arc-shaped supporting track mounted llO upon one'endof said framework, power drive mounted on the outer end of saidcarriage, the latter being of said length and the track being of suchextent thatthe ltamper end of the carriage may be swung into operativeposition on either side of and beyond either tractor, and drivingconnections between said vertical shaft and said tamper actuating meansoperable in' any one of its adjustable positions. p O 13. A machine ofthe class described comprising, a frame mounted upon tractors, anelongated carriageI supported upon saidf frame, an arc-shaped trackmounted on one end of said frame with its concavity-'facing the centerof the frame, power means for said tractors including a vertical shaftmountedon said frame at the'approximate `center 'of the arc of thetrack, and the said carriage being pivoted at one end about the upperend of the shaft and extending out over the outline ofuthe frame yandtractors with v its intermediate portion resting upon said track, tam ermechanism mounted on the .outer end of .the carriage, and drivingconnections between ,said sha-ftand said tamper mechanism. i A

14. vA machine of the class described com"- prising,`a frame workmounted upon tracftors, a vertical shaft mounted approximately 39centrally of the frame work, an elongated carnage having one end pivotedabout said shaft vand bearing a tamper mechanism at its opposite end,the weight of the carriage and tamper mechanism 4resting upon anarcshaped track between the shaft 4and tamper, an engine mountedadjacent one end of the frame, and driving connections, including saidshaft, for driving said tamper mecha-` nism from said engine.h

15. A machine of the class described comprising, an elongated framemounted upon tractors, an arc-shaped track mounted adjacent one end ofsaid frame with its convex surface facing outward, a vertical shaftmounted on said frame at the approximate center of said track, anelongated carriage fulcrumed at oneend for oscillation inl a horizontalplane about said shaft with its opposite end extending out over theoutline of the frame and tractors, and its intermediate portion restingon said track, tamper mechanism mounted at an extreme end of saidcarriage, power means mounted on said frame and having drivingconnections with said shaft, and driving connections between pf thepositions of said carriage andbetween said shaft and said tractors.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

AUGUsjrUs J. PENOTE.

v,said shaft andsaid tamper mechanism in any

